Prayers of Elijah

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Elijah was an impressive character in the Bible. His short biography can be found mostly in 1 Kings, but his name comes up elsewhere in Scripture. He is a favorite character of many and rightfully so. His life was powerful and effective. Maybe it was because he wasn’t afraid to boldly ask God for big things.

Here are a few things we glean from his example:

1. Elijah completely depended on God

On one occasion, Elijah was in hiding from the wicked king, Ahab. He was at the mercy of God for his basic needs at a small brook, which dried up from a drought. He listened to the Lord and went to Zarephath, complete convinced that God would meet his needs there. 

Sure enough, Jehovah Jireh came through. Although his first source of provision dried up, God’s faithfulness didn’t. He listened and obeyed. 

2. Elijah prayed for God-sized things

After dowsing an altar with water, he prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!” [1 Kings 18.36].

What faith! And God answered his prayer, giving him the opportunity to boldly proclaim the greatness of God. 

3. Elijah prayed until an answer came

It was through his prayers that a drought came upon the land. And, now it was time for it to end. So, Elijah began to pray. He asked God for enough rain to quench the parched land. Nothing. He went to God again and again. Still nothing. Seven times he prayed expectantly. 

Finally, a small cloud appeared. It was just enough for him to know that God was beginning to respond to his prayers. You guessed it, God ended the drought by sending rain on a thirsty land. 

When we pray, we are like Elijah, calling on the faithfulness and character of God who is able to do far more than we can ask or think. And, we, like Elijah, are merely ordinary people calling on an extraordinary, Omnipotent God.

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5.17-18